A cross-party group of over 60 Lithuanian MPs (there are 141 members of the parliament, of whom 71 are directly elected members and 70 are elected through a proportional representation system) has proposed holding a consultative referendum to define “family” in the national constitution as based only on marriage between a man and a woman, as well as motherhood and fatherhood. (In any vote, 71 members would constitute a majority.)
Members of Lithuanian political parties, 2024
The initiative is in response to court rulings that have recognised broader forms of family, including same-sex couples. If approved, the referendum would take place alongside next year’s municipal elections and would guide future legislative changes, though it would not automatically amend the constitution.
The proposal has raised concerns about potential restrictions on the rights and recognition of diverse families, particularly LGBTI+ people, amid ongoing debates over equality and constitutional interpretation in Lithuania.
SOURCES: IPPF Opposition Update, 9 April 2026; see also: Wikipedia, 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election, October 2024.